Machine for decorticating fibrous plants.



W. J. HOLLIER. MACHINE Foa DECORTICAUNG FlRous PLANTS.-

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 20. 191?.

Patented Nov. 12, 1918..

Jim.

W. 1. HOLUER.

MACHINE FOR nfcomlcmm@ Flous PLANTS.

i l APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 20, 1917. 1,284,679. Patented Nov. 12, 1918 4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

111 lll IN'VENTOR.

lv HTORNEK .ns wams Emu ca, maw-uma. summum f W. I. HOLLIER.

MACHINE FOR DECORTICATING FIBROUS PLANS.

APPLlcAnoN FILED SEPT. 20. |911.

1,284,679. 4 mum Nov. 12, 1918.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

W. 1. HOLLIER.

Patened Nov. 12, 191,8'.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

unrrnn sTATns PATENT ornion.

WALTER JOI-IN HOLLIER, 0F ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

MACHINE FOR DECDRTICATING FIBROUS PLANTS.

Appliction'led Scpteilnb'e'l` 20, 1917. 'SorialNa 192,285.

and Manila hemp, and analogous long fiber plants. It is equally adapted for the treatment of flax straw, either retted or unretted, as well as jute, hemp and ramie, the aforementioned plants being substantially the same as those named in my Patent N o. 1,157,780 dated October 26, 1915.

The drawings and specification accompanying this application are made from a machine already constructed and its efiiciency thoroughly demonstrated. Its general object is to provide improved means of decortcating the leaves of the plants in their entire length and width, (without splitting tliem),\by means of a slow-running machine of large capacity, producing fiber free of vegetable epidermis and juices. The effective removal of the epidermis and juices gives the fibers a better color and preserves their strength, materially increasing thc market value.

One of the important features of my invention as described in the following specilication, consists in the use of a plurality of gripping devices which operate successively with a iexible scraping squeezing action, effecting a thorough decortication and 'expulsion of the juices. In this operation actual practice on a number of different fibers, has determined it to be very advantageous, as against close-contact scraping, to provide means for bending the fibers around an angle, which eliminates 'much wastage of liber that occurs with close-'contact scraping, and greatly augmente the life and maintenance of the flexible scraping squeezing devices.

Another feature of my invention is the construction of the gripping flexible scraping squeezing devices, Vwhich especially adapts them to their purpose. Other novel features are the means by which they are controlled in their use.

Further objects pear hereinafter. Y

--In the drawing which fully illustrates the preferred embodiment of my invention:

AFigure l is a plan, partially broken away, illustrating my machine;

Fig.Y 2 is a side elevation of the machine shown in Fig.A 1,. partially broken away;

Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the machine,

sped/muon of Letters Patent. Patented Nov, 12, 1918,

of the invention will apl certain parts being broken away; this view particularly illustrates the feeding and holding means for the stock; A Fig. 4c is a plan and partial section, showing a detail of the construction;

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section taken about on the line 5-5 of Fig. 6, through a portion of one. ofthe gripping devices, and particularly illustrating the manner in which it is controlled Fig.. 6 is an end view of one of the gripping devices showing a portion of the apron or belt to which it is' attached; this view is partially broken away to illustrate the mode of operation of means which I employ for plaring the gripping devices of entangled ers;

Fig. 7 is a cross-section through one of the gripping devices, illustrating its form and the manner of securing it to the belt;

Fig. 8 is a plan showing one end of one of the gripping devices and further illustrating its mode of operation;

Fig. 9 is a detail plan of one of the gripping devices partially broken away and further illustrating details of its construction.

Referring more particularly to the parts,

the frame of the machine comprises four pedestal bearings 1, which are connected in pairs by longitudinal bars 2, and mounted upon suitable sills 3. On this frame I prefer to support a single continuously moving endless carrier which may be in the form of an endless apron or belt a. In order to support and drive this apron I prefer to provide transverse shafts 5 turning in the pedestal bearings, and these shafts carry four pulleys 6, which support the belt or apron 4 near its outer edges.

Means is provided for holding and feedversely to the direction of movement and adjacent to the carrier or belt, the movement of which is indicated by the arrows in Figs. 1 and 2; for this purpose, at the right end of the frame as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, I provide a cross-bar 7 adjacent one end of which a sprocket wheel 8 is provided for driving an upper double feed chain 9. The cross-bar 7 comprises an upper rail 10, and the lower run of this feed chain passes along the under side of this upper rail 10, being guided for this purpose around suitable guide pulleys 11 and 12 at the other end of the bar, see Fig. 3. I also provide a double lower feedychain 13 the upper run 14 of which passes adjacent to the lower run of the upper feed chain. This feed chain 13 is driven by a sprocket wheel 15, and suitable guide pulleys 16 are provided so that a receiving mouth 17 is formed through which the butt ends of the stock are fed between the chains. In order that the feed chains will securely hold the butt ends of the stock, I prefer to provide presser blocks or shoes 18 mounted on stems 19 which pass freely through the upper rail 10, being pressed down by the coil springs 20, disposed around the stems. A guide pulley 21 guides Y the lower chain 13 in a loop around a sprocket wheel 22, on the shaft of which a gear 23 is provided (see Fig. 1) which communicates its rotation to a similar gear Wheel 24 secured on the shaft of the upper sprocket Wheel 8.

The feeding of the stock transversely onto the apron is facilitated by means of an inclined feed board 25.

The stock is fed transversely in this'way so vthat the fibers of the stock extend longitudinally with the direction of travel of the upper run of the apron, and the stock tends to lie on the upper run of the apron.

I Suitable means is provided for iucising the stock longitudinally of its fibers, and suitable means is also provided for separating the fibers into strands and for gripping or clamping the strands so as to effect the decortication and simultaneously squeeze out the juices. I may combine the incising means with the gripping means. For this purpose I provide a plurality of gripping devices 26 carrying the incising means, and each gripping device preferably comprises two relatively movable parts including a comb 27 which extends transversely to the belt or apron. These two relatively movable parts come together by a movement substantially in the plane or direction of advance of the stock across the machine; and they the boltl 28.

are provided with means operating first to separate the fibers into strands and then to grip the strands. These combs 27 are secured to the belt by suitable bolts such' as (See Fig. 7 .j On its forward side each comb carries a plurality of forwardly inclined separatorfingers 29 having sharp upper ends 30 which are adapted to pass between the bers of the stock and divide the same into strands so that the strands will lie between the separator fingers. The end of the comb which is adjacent the feeding point is preferably provided with a plurality of sharpened teeth 31 which incline forwardly and have sharpened upper ends to cut through the stock and reduce it to a shredded condition. Each gripping device further includes a part movable relatively to the comb, in the form of a gripper bar 32 which is preferably mounted to slide longitudinally on the comb in a suitable guide channel 33, see Fig. 7, and this gripper bar carries a plurality of gripper fingers which extend upwardly and forwardly behind the separator fingers 29. The gripping devices are mounted so as to move in a straight line along the fibers of the stock.

The gripping devices have an open and a closed position. In their open condition they receive the fibers and they are then controlled so as to close and grip the fibers, then, as the gripping device is carried out wardly by the apron they subject the fibers` to a squeezing action and also to a pull or tension. 'Ihe gripping devices operate in such a way that in gripping the fibers or strands they bend them around an angle. In this connection, it should be understood that the gripper fingers 34 cooperate with the fingers 29 so that they grip the strands 35 of the fibers against the backs of the fingers 29. On this account, when a strand is gripped and subjected to tension, it will be bent around an angle, see Fig. 9. In other words, it will be seen, that between fingers 29 and 84 are formed throats which receive the strands. Furthermore the width of these throats 36 is graduated so that the largest are at the feeding side of the machine and the reduced throats are toward the delivery side of the machine. The result of this is that the strands 35 are subjected to an effective squeezing action at all points along the comb, and due to the eX* pulsion of the juices by the gripping de- -VlCeS Strands 198001118 1I101` and IIlOI'G 18- duced in diameter as the operation progresses.

In order to control the operation of the gripping devices I provide setting mechanism 37, see Figs. 5 and 6, corresponding to each gripper bar 32. This setting mechanism comprises a brackety 38 which is attached by suitable screws 38a to the under side of the gripper bar through an elongated slot 39 in the bottom of the channel 33. Suitable means is provided to enable the gripper bar to be resiliently pressed toward its closed position and also to enable it to be latched in its open position and held open until it is tripped by releasing means to be vpresently described. For this purpose the bracket 38 preferably carries a p1v.- oted latch 40 the outer end of Which passes through an opening 4l in a bracket 42 which is fixed to the under side of the comb 27; a coiled spring 43 is disposed around the latch and thrusts against the brackets 38 and 42 so that it tends to move the gripper bar toward its closed position` Fig. 5 shows the latch in lits latched position, with its shoulder 44 engaging the bracket 42 vand restraining the spring 43. lVhen the separator fingers 29 of the comb have passed through the stock 45, see Fig. 2, the latch is tripped :by releasing means so as to permit the spring to close the gripping device. Any suitable means may be provided for tripping this latch. I prefer however, to provide means located within the apron. For this purpose I provide a roller 46, see Figs. 1 and 2, which is mounted on an arm 47 supported on the shaft 5 at the right end of the machine. The adjustment of this tripping roller 46 may be regulated by means of a link 48, the end of which is threaded and passes through a bracket 49, see Fig. 2, adjusting nuts 5() being provided for taking up the link or adjusting it outwardly as may be desired. Fig. 5 illustrates the relative position of this roller 46 in dotted lines when it trips the latch.

After the gripping device has passed out of engagement with the fibers or strandsit is automatically opened and reset in its open position. For this purpose I prefer to provide on the shaft 5 at the outer end of the machine, a cam wheel 51. This cam wheel runs loose ona skew hub 52which is held in a fixed position between collars 58 secured to the shaft, see Fig. 4. The wheel 51. is substantially the same diameter as the pulleys 6 s0 that the moving apron engaging its outer edge continuously rotates it. The cam wheel 5l is disposed in a vertical plane inclined to the longitudinal axis of the machine and is located in a position such that as the comb passes it, its edge will engage with the outer side of the bracket 88 and force the gripper bar toward the right as viewed in Fig. 5. This will compress the spring 43 and will cause the latch 41 to slide toward the right in the latching opening 41. Near the end of this movement the latch will be forced downwardly into engagement with the bracket 42 by means of a small leaf spring 54 attached to the end of the latch and thrusting against the upper wall of the latching opening 41. In order to hold the skew hub 52 in place and also enable its release 'to be exactly timed in order to deter-- mine the point at which the trigger bars will open, I provide a link 55, one end of which is attached by a pin 56 to the skew hub 52. and the other end of which is threaded and passes through a bracket 57, mounted on a cross-bar 58, the said link being provided adjacent the bracket with adjusting nuts 59 seating on washers 60. The bracket 49 already described is similarly supported on a cross-bar 61.

Suitable means is provided for clearing the gripping devices of loose fibers or bark which may become lodged or entangled in them. For this purpose I prefer to provide each comb with a stripper plate 62 which eX- tends longitudinally throughout the entire length of the comb and is provided with eX- tensi'ons 63 which .pass into the spaces between the separatoringers 29, and similar eX- tensions 64 which pass into the spaces between the incising teeth 8l, see Fig. 9. Each stripper plate 62 is preferably mounted on pivot pins 65 held in the ends of arms 66 projecting respectively from the forward side and each end of the comb, and around these pins 65 suitable springs 67 are provided which tend to hold the stripper plates lying flat against the upper side of the comb.

In connection with the setting mechanism 87, I provide means for limiting the amount of the closing movement of the gripper bars. For this purpose I prefer to' provide a stem 68 one end of which is threaded in the bracket 38 and the other end of which slides freely through the block 42, being provided with a head 69 which engages the side of bracket 42 to limit the outward movement. of the bracket 38. This head 69 has a screw slot which enables the effective length of the stem 68 to be adjusted. By means of this adjusting device the alinement of the gripping ngers 34 with the separator fingers 29 may be nicely regulated.

In order to 'actuate the stripper plates while the gripping devices are disengaged from the fibers, I prefer to provide each gripper plate with an extension or arm 70 at one end, see Figs. 2 and 9, and each arm 70 has an outward projection or dog 7l. When each gripping device arrives at the left end of the machine, see Fig. 2, the dog 71 engages a fixed cam 73 which operates to swing the arm 70 downwardly and rotate stripper plates on its pivots. In this way the extensions 63 and 64 clear the combs of any entangled fibers. It should be understood that the gripper bar travels a distance equal to one finger space in passing from its open to its closed position, and vice versa. Hence each gripper finger catches all the fibers between its two adjacent separator fingers, thus forming a strand, and clamps the strand against the edge of an adjacent separator finger. Fig. 8 shows the gripper bar in an intermediate position, as though in the act of moving from its open position to its closed position.

In order to insure that the belt or apron 4 will maintain its alinement I provide two guide pulleys 74 which are mounted on the sills 3 and which engage the side edges of the lower run of the apron. As one of these pulleys 74 would be in the path of the dogs 71 as they pass, I provide means 5 for holding the stripper plates in an open position so that each dog is held below the guide pulley until it passes it. For this purpose I provide a cam bar 75, see Figs. l and 2, which constitutes an extension of the cam 73. This bar may be in the form of an angle iron, the horizontal flange 76 of which is engaged on its under side by the dog 71, see Fig. 2. This holds the dog low enough to pass thepulley Without engaging it.

The machine is driven by rotating the shaft 5 at the left of the machine, which, through the medium of its pulleys 6 imparts continuous motion to the apron f1. At the right end of the machine the apron 4 rotates pulleys 6 rigid on their shaft 5.

\ This shaft 5 through the medium of a suitable pinion 77 and gear wheel 78, imparts rotation to bevel gears 79 and through them to a counter shaft 80 which carries the aforesaid sprocket wheel 15. In this way through the counter shaft 80 motion is imparted to the feed chains.

After the stock has passed across the machine, the stub end 81 of the stock is cut ofl' by means of two overlapping cutters 82a carried by the shafts 82 and 83 which also carry the aforesaid sprocket wheels 8 and 22.

The general mode of operation of the machine will now be briefly stated.

The stock in the form of leaves or stalks is fed down the feed board 25 so that the stub ends S1 of the stock pass into the receiving throat 17 between the feed chains 9 and 13. These feed chains then grip the stock and move it onto the apron in a transverse direction. The teeth or knives 31 moving longitudinally of the fibers of the stock, cut through the outer coating of the fibers and reduce the stock to a shredded condition. As the movement progresses across the apron the fibers are engaged by the gripping devices and squeezed, scraped and Vulled thereby. In this connection it should lie understood that the feeding and holding mechanism operates to hold the stock securely and prevent its being disengaged by the tension in the fibers. Any suitable number of gripping devices may be provided but I prefer to provide a sufiicient number to insure that two gripping devices are constantly engaging the fibers. The gripping devices bend the vfibers around an angle and squeeze them in such a way as to expel the juices of the plant and leave the fibers comparatively free from such juices, thereby improving the quality and color of the fibers. As each gripping device first comes in contact with the fibers it is in its open position, but it is immediately tripped by the tripf ping roller 46 so that it is closed by its spring 43, and grips the fibers. After passing out of engagement with the fibers, each gripping device is opened through the agency of the cam wheel 51 and is thereby latched and restrained in its open position. About this time, also, the stripper plates 62 are swung open to clear the gripping de- 4 vices of entangled fibers or bark. As the gripping devices pass the guide pulley 74 at one side of the machine the stripper plates 75 are held open so that their dogs 71 areout of line with the pulley.

The machine is driven by driving the left hand shaft 5 which operates to drive the apron in the direction of the arrow. The movement of the apron communicates motion to the right hand shaft 5 which operates through the gearing at vthe right of the machine, to impart rotation to the counter shaft 80, which in turn, drives the feed chains.

In order to hold the material or stock down upon the apron where the' gripping devices come into operation, I provide a transverse feed rail 7a which extends hori- 90 zontally across the machine, see Fig. 2, and this rail is supported on arms 7b that project in from the feed bar 7.

It is understood that the embodiment of the invention described herein is only one of the many embodiments my invention may take, and I do not wish to be limited in thepractice of my invention nor in my claims to' the particular embodiment set forth.

What I claim is 1. In a machine for decorticating fibrous Y plants, the combinationV of means for holding the stock, means for incising the stock longitudinally of its fibers, gripping means for gripping the fibers, and means for moving the gripping means longitudinally along the gripped fibers.

2. In a machine for decorticating fibrous plants, the combination of means for holding the stock, means for incising the stock longitudinally of its fibers, means for collectmg the fibers into strands, and for gripping the'strands, and means for moving the gripping means relatively along the gripped strands to clean the same and eX- press the vegetable juices therefrom.

3. In a machine for decorticating fibrous plants, the combination of means for holding the stock, means for incising the stock longitudinally of its fibers, gripping devices mounted to grip the fibers and move longitudinally along the same, said gripping devices having separator fingers to separate the mass of fibers into strands, and means operating to grip the strands against the fingers.

4. In a machine for decorticating fibrous plants, the combinationA of means for holding and advancing the stock across the machine, and gripping means comprising two parts constructed to come together to grip the stock by a movement substantially in the same plane as that in which the stock advances, and means for moving vsaid gripping means along the fibers to clear the same and express the juices therefrom.

5. In a. machine for decorticating fibrous plants, the combination of means for holding the stock, an endless carrier mounted to travel longitudinally with the fibers of the stock, and gripping devices mounted on said carrier and having means for separating the fibers into strands and gripping the strands,

and means for simultaneously moving said gripping means along the fibers, to clean the fibers and express the juices therefrom.

6. In a machine for decorticating fibrous plants, the combination of means for holding and feeding the stock transversely to the machine, gripping devices extending transversely of the machine and mounted to move longitudinally along the fibers of the stock, said gripping devices having throats for gripping the fibers, said throats being graduated so as to decrease in Width longitudinally of the gripping devices.

7 In a machine for decorticating fibrous plants, the combination of an endless carrier,

means for holding and feeding the stock transversely across said carrier, so that the fibers of the stock extend longitudinally with the direction of travel of said carrier, and gripping devices mounted on said carrier and having throats for receiving and gripping the fibers and simultaneously moving along the bers, said vthroats being graduated so as to decrease in Width in the direction in Which the stock passes across said carrier.

8. In a machine fordecorticating fibrous plants, the combination of means for holding and feeding forward the stock gripping devices mounted to move longitudinally along the fibers of the stock, ysaid gripping devices having an open position and a closed position, means for holding said gripping devices open to permit the fiber to pass into the same, andmeans for effecting the closing of the gripping devices to grip the fibers therein and subject the fibers to a tension and a squeezing action while the gripping devices move longitudinally along the fibers.

9. In a machine for decorticating fibrous plants, the combination of an endless carrier, means for holding and feeding the stock transversely across said carrier so that the fibers of the stock extend longitudinally With i y the direction of travel of said carrier, a Ypluralitv oftransversely disposed combs mount-` -ed on said carrier and having fingersto en- -gage the fibers of the'vstocl, gripper bars,

i having fingers coperating :With fingers of said combs respectively', and meansfor controllingsaid gripper barsfto grip the fibers against the'fingers of said combs and thereby plants, the combination of means for holding and feeding forward the stock, gripping devices mounted to move longitudinally along the fibers of the stock, said gripping devices having an open position and a closed position, resilient means tending to` close said gripping devices, means for holding said gripping devices open against the action of said resilient means to permit the fibers to pass into the same, and releasing mean operating to permit the resilient means to close the gripping devices to grip the bers thereinand subject the same to a tension and a squeezing scraping action While the gripper devices move longitudinally along the fibers.

l1. In a machine for decorticating fibrous plants, the combination of an endless carrier, means for holding and feeding theV stock transversely across said carrier so that the fibers of the stock extend longitudinally with the direction of travel ofsaidcarrier,

springs-tending to move said gripper bars to grip the fibers between said fingers, and means for releasing said gripper bars tothe action of said springs.V

12. In a machine for decorticating fibrous plants, the combination of an endless carrier, means for holding Vand feeding the stock transversely across said carrier so that the fibers of the stock extend longitudinally With the direction of travel of said carrier, a plurality of transversely disposed combs mounted on said carrier and having fingers to engage the fibers of the stock, gripper bars coperating with said combsrespectively, a spring corresponding to each bar for moving the same in a direction. to grip the fibers against the said fingers, a latch for locking each gripper bar in its open position, and `means for releasing the latches to permit the springs to close the gripper-bars.

13. In a machine for decorticating fibrous plants, a gripping devicey comprising tivo members relatively movable transversely to Vthe fibers and operating lto grip strands of rthe fibers and bend lthe same around Aan plants, the combination of means for holding the stock, means Jfor incising the stock longitudinally .of its fibers, combs mounted to move longitudinally of said fibers and having fingers for separating said fibers into strands, gripper bars having fingers coperating With said first named fingersy to grip the strands, means for moving the gripper bars to release the strands after being gripped, and means for clearing said fingers of entangled fibers While said combs are in motion. y

15. In a machine for decorticating fibrous plants, the combination of means for holding the stock, means for incising the stock longitudinally of its fibers,rcombs mounted to move longitudinally of said fibers and hav! ing separator fingers for separating said fibers into strands, gripper bars having gripping fingers cooperating with said separato-r fingers to grip the'strands, means for moving the gripper bars to release the strands after being gripped, stripper plates movably mounted respectively on said combs and extending into the spaces between said se iarator fingers, and means foractuating said stripper plates to clear said fingers of entangled fibers.

16. In a machine for decorticating fibrous plants, the combination of a frame, an endless carrier mounted on said frame, means for holding the stock and feeding the same transversely of said carrier With the fibers of the stock extending longitudinally With the direction of travel of said carrier, combs 'carried by said carrier and having ngers for separating the. fibers into strands, gripper bars to coperate With said combs, means l for holding said gripper bars in their open 40 position to permit the fingers to pass through the fibers, means for controlling said gripper bars to grip the fibers against said'fingers, and means mounted adjacent the outer end of said frame for moving said gripper bars to release the fibers.

17. In a machine for decorticating fibrous plants, the combination of a frame, an endless carrier mounted on said frame, means for holding the stock and feeding the same transversply of said carrier with the fibers of the Shogi; extending longitudinally with Lthe directolg of travel of said carrier, combs carried by Said carrier and having fingers for Separating the fibers intp strands, grip- 55 per [m IS to (,OpL irate with said combs, means for he Ming Said gripper bars in their open positie ,n fo perrhit the fingers to pass throng .h the bel-,S means for controlling y said g1 *,pper bars to (rip the fibers against 60 Sad fi:l ltigers, means inofmted adla'ent the @1115er e ind of' said frame Y for movmg. Sad

gl'lpper bars to release the fibers Strlpper plates c larried by said combs and extendmg @to the spaces bet-Ween said fing 'ers for dem' 65 ing sai [fingers of entangled (,bcrs, and

means for actuating said stripper plates after the strands of fibers have been released from the said combs.

18. In a machine for decorticating fibrous plants, the combination of a frame, a con tinuously moving endless apron mounted on said frame, means for holding the stock and feeding the same transversely of said car rier with the fibers of the stock extending longitudinally With the direction of travel of said apron, combs carried by said carrier having teeth for incising the stock longitu-Y dinally of its fibers, and having fingers for separating the fibers into strands, gripper bars to coperate with said combs, means for holding said gripper bars in their open position to permit the fingers to pass between the fibers, means for contro-lling said gripper bars to grip the strands 'of fibers against said fingers, stripper plates carried by said combs extending into the spaces between said fingers and said teeth for clearing the saine of entangled fibers, and means for actuating said stripper plates after the strands of fibers have been released from the said combs.

19. In a machine for decorticating fibrous plants, the combination of an endless carrier, a plurality of gripping devices mounted on said carrier to move longitudinally of the fibers of the stock, said gripping devices each comprising` a ,relatively fixed comb having a plurality of separator fingers spaced apart for dividing the fibers into' strands, and a gripper bar movable longitudinally of each comb, and havingV gripping fingers spaced apart a distanceV equal to the spacing of said separator fingers,

i means for holding said gripper bars so that the fingers thereof are in alinment With the fingers of said combs, and means for shifting said gripper bars longitudinally cf said combs a distance substantially equal to one finger space to grip the strands of'fibers 'against the rear sides of the separator fingers.

20. In a machine for decorticating fibrous plants, the combination of a continuously moving endless apron, pulleys for support# ing and driving the same, means for feeding the stock transversely of said apron With Sift the fibers therein extending longitudinally with the direction of'travel of said apron,

a plurality of gripping devices carried by said apron for gripping strands ofY th'e fibers to pull and squeeze the same, stripper plates carried by said gripper devices for clearing the same of entangled fibers, and aV fixed cam for actuating said stripper plates when said gripper devices are out of en-V gagement With the fibers.

21. In a machine for decorticating fibrous plants, the combination of a continuously driven endless apron. means for feeding the stock transversely of said apron, a plurality `of gripping devices carried by said apron taining the same in its alinement and means for holding said stripper plates out of contact With said guide pulley as they pass the same.

22. In a machine for decorticating fibrous plants, the combination of a frame, a pair of shafts mounted on said frame, pulleys carried thereby, a continuously moving` endless apron passing around said pulleys, means for feeding the stock transversely to said apron iviththe fibers thereof extending longitudinally with said apron, a plurality of gripping devices carried by said apron for gripping and squeezing the fibers,

means for holding said gripping devices in an open position as they pass into contact With said fibers, a tripping device adjacent to one of said shafts for effecting the closing of the gripping devices as they pass the same and means adjacent the other shaft for resetting the gripping` devices in their open positions.

23. In a machine for decorticating fibrous plants, the combination of a frame, a pair of shafts mounted on said frame, pulleys carried thereby, a continuously moving endless apron passing around said pulleys, means for feeding the stock transversely to said apron with the fibers thereof extending longitudinally with said apron, a plurality of gripping devices carried on the outer side of said apron and having setting mechanism disposed on the inner side of said apron for holding said gripping devices in an open position to receive the fibers, said setting mechanism including means tending to close said gripping devices to squeeze and pull the fibers, means mounted Within said apron for setting said mechanism to hold the gripping devices in their open position, and means Within said apron for releasing said gripping devices to permit the same to close and grip the fibers.

24. In a machine for decorticating fibrous plants, the combination of a frame, a pair of shafts mounted on said frame, pulleys carried thereby, a continuously moving endless apron passing around said pulleys, means for feeding the stock transversely to said apron with the fibers thereof extending longitudinally with said apron, a plurality of grippinof devices carried on the outer side of said apron and having setting mechanism on the inner side of said apron for holding the gripping devices open. said setting mechanism including a latch for holding the gripping devices open and a spring tending to close the gripping devices, a cam Wheel mounted on one of said shafts for compressing said spring and for moving said latch into a position to latch the spring in compression, and a tripping device mounted on the other of said shafts for engaging said latch to release said spring.

25. In a machine of decorticating fibrous plants, the combination of an endless carrier, means for holding and feeding the stock transversely across said carrier so that theV fibers of the stock extend longitudinally with the direction of travel of said carrier, a plurality of transversely disposed combs mounted on said carrier and having fingers to engage the fibers of the stock, gripper bars, having fingers coperating With the fingers of said combs respectively, means for controlling said gripper bars to grip the fibers against the fingers of said combs and thereby subject the fibers to tension and a squeezing scraping action While the combs move longitudinally along the fibers, and means for adjusting said gripper bars longitudinally of said combs to control the alinement of the fingers of said gripper bars with the fingers of said combs.

26. In a machine for decorticating fibrous plants, the combination of means for holding the stock, a single endless carrier mounted to travel longitudinally with the bers of the stock, a gripping device carried solely Iby said carrier having means for gripping the fibers, and means for moving said endless carrier to advance the gripping device along the fibers, thereby cleaning the fibers and expressing the juices therefrom.

27. In a machine for decorticating fibrous plants, the combination of means for holding the stock, a single endless carrier, a gripping device comprising tvvo relatively movable members carried solely by said carrier, and having resilient means cooperating with said members to clamp the fibers between said members, and means for moving said carrier to advance said gripping device longitudinally of the fibers While gripping the same to clean the fibers and express the juices therefrom.

28. In a machine for decorticating fibrous plants, the combination of an endless carrier, means for holding and advancing' the stock across the carrier adjacent the plane of movement of the carrier, and gripping means comprising tivo parts mounted to come together by a movement in a plane substantially parallel with the plane of movement of the carrier, for gripping the stock, and means for moving said carrier to advance the gripping means along the fibers to clean the same and express the juices therefrom.

29. In a machine for decorticatingfibrous plants, the combination of means for feeding the stock across the machine, an endless carrier mounted to travel longitudinallv with the bers of the stock, and gripping devices mounted on said carrier, each of said gripping devices comprising two relatively movable members mounted to come together by a movement substantially in the plane in which the stock advances, each of said relatively movable parts having means operating to separate the ibers into 10 strands and then to grip the strands, said carrier operating to advance said gripping devices along the ibers to clean the same and eX ress the juices therefrom.

n testimony whereof, I have hereunto set 15 my hand. l

WALTER JOHN HOLLIER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

